Visitors take photos of monks in the Mahabodhi temple on Tuesday. Picture by Suman

Gaya, July 9: Several new arrangements have been put in place today for safety of pilgrims and travellers in the holy town of Bodhgaya.

For tourists going to visit Mahabodhi Mahavihara, the World Heritage Site, showing any identity proof has been made mandatory with switching off the cellphone. They will be frisked at two checkpoints. Incidentally. Hardly any tourist was found complaining. “I feel safer,” said Bhikkhuni Due Hai, a 45-year-old nun from the US, who has been living in Bodhgaya for over a year.

“I have been regularly visiting Mahavihara at morning and in the evening during my stay in Bodhgaya. There was never such checking before entry. I feel it is a good arrangement, which will not only keep the visitors safe but also the holy shrine,” she said.

Two checkpoints have been made for entry into the Mahavihara. Bihar Military Police (BMP) jawans ask for identity proof, ensure that the cellphone is switched off and frisk the visitor by hand-held metal detector at the main entrance to the Mahavihara. Visitors have to cross through a doorframe metal detector near the reception of Mahavihara. Again, the visitor is checked by hand-metal detector for one last time. The women were seen frisked by policewomen in a cabin made for the purpose.

Six of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) security guards have been provided a walkie-talkie each.

At the same time, discussions are going on over the security arrangements at Mahavihara in particular and around Bodhgaya in general. At a meeting conducted by Gaya district magistrate-cum-BTMC chairman Balamurugun D. discussions were made to increase number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the Mahavihara campus and to increase the height of boundary wall towards southern end, which at present is around 5ft.

Meanwhile, Section 144 of the IPC has been promulgated in Bodhgaya town from Tuesday. An order with this regard was issued by Gaya Sadar sub-divisional officer (SDO) Maqsood Alam. All the shops of Mahabodhi complex on red pedestal towards north of Mahavihara have also been closed till further order for security reasons. High alert has been sounded not only in Bodhgaya but across the district. The district magistrate had called a meeting on Tuesday where representatives of cinemas, temples like Vishnupad, Mangala Gauri and other places of people gathering were called.

Although normality has returned for the visitors of Mahavihara, the local shopkeepers and transport operators are still affected by the order to close shops of Mahabodhi complex till further order due to security reasons. There are around 58 shops in the Mahabodhi complex.

Deo Narayan Yadav, who runs a handicraft shop in the complex, said all the businessmen have their families dependent on daily income. By closure of the shops it would affect their life. “If there is a security threat, identity cards should be issued to the shopowners by the administration,” he said.